9 Apr 2014

Good year for mandarin growers

6:25 am on 9 April 2014

The Mandarin harvest is shaping up to be one of the best in years for growers.

In the past few seasons, supply has exceeded demand on the domestic market, meaning a slump in prices for growers.

This season, the crop is down by about about 25 percent - but fruit colour and flavour are superior to previous harvests.

Mandarin Product Group chair Brad Davies said it was looking good for growers, something he puts down to a warm spring followed by a hot summer.

About 7000 tonnes of mandarins are expected to be harvested, with most sold domestically.

Mr Davies said there was a small export market, mostly to Japan, but that there were encouraging signs from China.

The harvest starts in about two weeks and runs until August.